Bleacher Report - Articles by Allen Levin

Miami-Phoenix Preview: Heat Look to Burn Suns and Remain Unbeaten

Allen Levin — Tue, 03 Nov 2009 20:25:34 -0500

The Miami Heat have gotten off to an excellent start, with a perfect 3-0 mark to start the 2009-2010 NBA season. They will look to remain undefeated when they square off with another unbeaten team in the Phoenix Suns tonight at American Airlines Arena in Miami.

The Heat are looking solid after three convincing wins over Eastern Conference opponents New York, Indiana, and Chicago. They will now face their first Western Conference test of the season against a high octane offensive team in Phoenix.

Fortunately for Miami, their defense has been the story of the young season. They held their last two opponents to below 90 points and have kept their first three opponents to 38.7 percent shooting, including 21.6 percent from beyond the arc.

The Heat’s defensive intensity will be key against the potent offense of the Suns, who are averaging 117.3 points in their first three games. Phoenix is being led by two-time MVP point guard Steve Nash, star forward Amar’e Stoudamire, and scorer Jason Richardson. Newly acquired Channing Fyre is also making an early impact, averaging 19 points and six rebounds in his first three games as a member of the Suns.

Miami is being led by their superstar Dwyane Wade, but unlike last season, the supporting cast has had a significant impact in the Heat’s hot start. Oft-injured center Jermaine O’Neal looks to have regained some of his former self after beginning the year with back-to-back 22 point, 12 rebound efforts. O’Neal broke his nose in Miami’s victory over Chicago on Sunday, but doesn’t expect to miss any time.

Michael Beasley has been solid in his new starting power forward role and team co-captain Udonis Haslem has been thriving in his new role as reserve forward. He invigorates the second unit with energy, hustle, and strong rebounding.

Miami will look to continue its recent string of success against Phoenix tonight, after sweeping the season series last year 2-0. Wade was an integral part of those victories as he has torched the Suns, averaging 36.3 points in the team’s last three meetings.

If Miami can limit Phoenix’s offensive attack and not get forced into a high tempo game, then they will have an excellent chance to start the season 4-0 for the first time since the 2004-2005 campaign.

UCF Knights Face Huge Test Against Marshall Sunday Night

Allen Levin — Sun, 01 Nov 2009 21:15:56 -0500

After seven games of football, the UCF Knights have proven themselves as a decent ball club. They stand at 4-3 overall and at 2-2 in the conference, they still have a prime shot to compete for the C-USA Championship.

They can help their chances at gaining the top spot in the East division Sunday night when they square off with rival Marshall at Bright House Networks Stadium. The Thundering Herd stand at second place in the league with a 3-1 conference record. They are coming off two straight C-USA victories over Tulane and UAB.

The Knights are coming off of an impressive 49-7 blowout Win over Rice, in which wide receiver AJ Guyton led the team with 103 receiving yards and one touchdown, to go along with a 36-yard touchdown pass. Senior transfer Brett Hodges contributed with 145 passing yards and one touchdown on eight-of-13 throwing.

UCF used a potent offense to overwhelm a weaker Rice squad. The Knights will need to deliver a similar performance against Marshall if they want to down the Herd.

UCF will need to utilize their running game to punish the Marshall defense. The Knights will look to pound the ball with running back Brynn Harvey, who is coming off a 71-yard performance on 12 carries last week against Rice.

The Knights will also need to use their stellar rush defense to stop Marshall's running attack. Thundering Herd back Darius Marshall is second in Conference-USA in rushing with 952 yards and 10 touchdowns.

Fortunately, UCF leads the conference in most rush defense categories, including least points per game, least yards per game, and least rush yards per game. They also lead the league in sacks. So, the Knights will look to utilize that to stop Marshall and his ground attack.

If the Knights can get a solid game from Harvey, combined with a strong defensive performance, and a reliable outing by Hodges, then UCF shouldn't have a problem taking care of Marshall on their home field in Orlando.

This is a big test for UCF in their quest to win their second C-USA Championship in the last three years. Marshall is a good team and the Knights will have to bring their best to down their Conference rival.

Another fortunate fact for the Knights is that they lead the all-time series with the Thundering Herd 4-3, with UCF winning every meeting since the two teams joined Conference-USA in 2005.

Hopefully, the Knights can improve on that record and elevate in the C-USA standings with a win over Marshall on Sunday night in front of a national audience on ESPN.

Sunshine State Showdown: Can UCF Pull off The Upset Over The Hurricanes?

Allen Levin — Sat, 17 Oct 2009 06:59:10 -0400

Finally, the highly anticipated matchup between the UCF Knights (3-2) and the No. 9 Miami Hurricanes (4-1) is upon us. Tonight, UCF will host the nationally ranked Hurricanes in what is their biggest home game and highest ranked opponent the Knights have faced since they played No. 6 Texas in the debut of their new stadium in 2007.

UCF is set to play in front of a sold out Bright House Networks Stadium that will undoubtedly be filled with electricity, intensity, and rowdy home fans. In addition, the game will be played in front of a national audience on ESPN. So, the stage is set for epic showdown between two in-state squads, but the question is: Can UCF pull off the upset?

The Hurricanes come to Orlando to face the Knights for the rematch of last year's game in Miami, where the Canes' defeated the Knights 20-14 in a close, but sloppy battle.

However, Miami is a much improved team from last year and is back in the national spotlight. They are being led by sophomore quarterback Jacory Harris, who has thrown 10 touchdown passes and 1225 yards in five games this year.

Miami has won two straight games since their sole loss against No. 4 ranked Virgina Tech, which includes a victory over No. 20 Oklahoma. They are looking to go 5-1 for the first time in four seasons.

UCF will certainly have its handful with the Hurricanes, which has been their only worthy opponent to date this season other than East Carolina. For the Knights to pull off the upset, they are going to need to play smart and efficiently and play their best ball of the season.

First of all, they need to stop Miami's offense.

Harris is going to be a handful to deal with. He is going to attempt to dominate the air game, and UCF will have to stop his strong passing game if they are going to have a chance.

The Hurricanes also have a good rushing attack with Javarris James and Graig Cooper sharing the running game. The duo has combined for 497 yards and four touchdowns. Unlike previous UCF opponents, Miami has a very effective running game and can use it to punish the Knights.

However, the Knights have one of the best rush defenses in college football and need to utilize it. They have allowed 472 rush yards this season, which ranks 12th in NCAA and have only allowed two rushing touchdowns, which is tied for third best in the nation. They will need to be consistent with those statistics if they want to stop James and Cooper.

Fortunately for the Knights, Miami's defense will be short-handed with injuries to starting defensive end Eric Moncur and starting safety Randy Phillips keeping them out of the game. The Canes' will also be missing defensive tackles Marcus Forston and Josh Holmes and DB Randy Phillips due to injuries.

The Knights will look to punish Miami's thin defensive line by utilizing their newest star, running back Brynn Harvey. The sophomore back has elevated his game recently and is starting to become UCF's most reliable offensive threat. He leads the team with 536 yards and six rushing touchdowns.

Two weeks ago against Memphis, Harvey had his breakthrough game. He posted 42 carries—the most nationally so far this season—for 219 yards and one TD in a 32-14 win over the Tigers.

On top of that, UCF has a big home field advantage. Bright House Networks is where the Knights play their best football. They are 3-0 at home this year and their is a noticeable difference in their performance away from Orlando. They average 27.7 points per game at home, while they average 16.5 points on the road. Conversely, they allow 18 points per game at home, while they give up 22.5 on the road.

UCF is an effective home team that can take care of business on their home field. Additionally, the home fans will be extraordinarily pumped and rowdy for this game. The energy in the stadium promises to be electric with a sold out crowd and a loud audience that does not get to see ranked teams regularly.

The Knights are a dangerous home team that have an opportunity to topple the beast Saturday night. UCF is 0-19 against teams ranked in the AP Top 25 and they have a chance to change that tonight and make history for their program.

UCF-Memphis Recap: Knights Pick Up Huge Conference USA Win Over Tigers

Allen Levin — Mon, 05 Oct 2009 02:28:17 -0400

A week after the UCF football team lost their second straight Conference USA matchup, the Knights responded with a crucial victory over conference rival Memphis (1-4, 0-2).

The Knights used a second-half comeback and strong offensive assault to overpower the Tigers, 32-14, at Bright House Networks Stadium in Orlando Saturday afternoon.

With the victory, UCF picked up their first league win of the season, improving their overall record to 3-2 and C-USA record to 1-2. The Knights also won their third straight home game, proving they are a tough team to beat in Orlando.

UCF was led in the game by a dynamic duo effort from running back Brynn Harvey and transfer quarterback Brett Hodges.

The two combined for 452 yards and three touchdowns. They kept the offense flowing in the second half with a balanced attack of running and passing that included long drives and ball control.

Harvey ran over the Memphis defense for a career-high 219 yards, including one touchdown and Hodges led the air attack with 214 yards on 16-for-28 passing.

However, the Knights didn't hit their flow until the second half. At halftime, the Tigers were leading the game 7-3, despite UCF controlling the ball for more than 19 minutes and gaining twice as many first downs.

The Knights then exploded in the second half for 29 points, starting with two consecutive Nick Cattoi field goals.

Cattoi finished the game with four field goals, tying a UCF record for field goals in a game.

But, the most crucial play came at the end of the third quarter on a seven-yard touchdown pass, when Hodges connected with Ricky Kay to give the Knights a 15-14 lead.

The offense continued to thrive into the fourth quarter with Hodges and Harvey leading the way. The redshirt senior quarterback threw his second straight touchdown, a 22-yard pass to Jamar Newsome to give UCF a 22-14 lead.

Then, Harvey put the game out of reach in the final minute of the game with a 26-yard touchdown run.

The offense really shined for the Knights, which is a good sign for a team that ranks in the bottom of the NCAA in most offensive categories.

Hodges and Harvey reeled off some impressive play to guide their team to a huge victory that kept them in the hunt for the conference.

UCF had 475 total yards, which is the most yards they've posted this season. The Knights also held the edge in possession of ball, 38:57 to 21:03. They simply dominated offensively in the second half, putting on their finest display of the season.

UCF will have a bye next week, before they host the No. 11 Miami Hurricanes in what promises to be one of the most intense atmospheres that Bright House Networks has ever experienced.

The Knights will look to build off their outstanding offensive showing and hopefully utilize it against the Hurricanes to pull off an improbable upset.

The Top Five UCF Football Players Over the Last Three Years

Allen Levin — Mon, 28 Sep 2009 03:09:16 -0400

Over the last three years, the UCF Knights football team has seen some good players come through the program. In 2007, when the Knights won the Conference-USA championship, the team had quite a few stars. From 2007-2009, UCF fans have been treated to some good players and I am going to list the best players that UCF has had on their roster.

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Central Casting: Former Central Florida Stud Kevin Smith May Be Future NFL Star

Allen Levin — Sun, 27 Sep 2009 19:33:26 -0400

The UCF Knights are not a program avidly known for having lots of their players make it to the NFL; but they do have some stars around the league.

Daunte Culpepper, Brandon Marshall, and Asante Samuel are some of the better known Knights that have had successful careers in the NFL.

And with the recent play of second year running back Kevin Smith, you might want to add the former UCF standout to that list.

Smith, who was drafted by the Detroit Lions with the first pick in the third round of the 2008 draft, has begun to make some noise in the pros.

Last year, Smith had a solid rookie campaign, leading the Lions in most rushing categories.

He posted 976 yards on 238 rushing attempts, to go along with eight rushing touchdowns to lead Detroit. His 976 yards were fourth in the league among rookie rushers and his eight TD runs were the third-highest mark by a rookie in Lions team history.

With his strong rookie campaign, Smith solidified himself as the Lions starting tailback and went into the 2009 season with high expectations. So far, the sophomore hasn't disappointed.

In week one of the season, Smith had one rushing touchdown to go along with 52 receiving yards. Last week, he followed up his performance with an 83 yard rushing effort.

And earlier today, he stepped up his game even further when he rushed for 101 yards through just three quarters on 16 carries, before leaving the game with an injured shoulder. But, his performance helped the Lions snap a 19-game losing streak with a 19-14 victory over the Washington Redskins. Smith now has 204 rushing yards and one touchdown on the season.

While at UCF, Smith was a consensus All-American (first ever in UCF school history) and a Heisman Trophy contender. He brought the Knights to all new heights in his final year with the team, leading them to a Conference-USA championship and the school's second ever bowl game.

During that same year, his junior campaign, he set multiple team and NCAA records. He posted an astonishing 2,567 rushing yards, just 62 yards shy of setting the NCAA season-rushing record set by Barry Sanders. He also had 29 rushing TD's and 450 rushing attempts, which shattered the old NCAA record of 405.

To say the least, Kevin Smith is a UCF legend. He single- handedly put UCF's name on the national radar with all the attention he garnered in 2007 and had the Knights ranked as high as No. 26 that year. So, to see a UCF great having success in the NFL is something that all UCF fans can appreciate.

As Smith continues to progress and mature, we can expect to see big things from him in the NFL. And with his recent strong performances, it's only a matter of time before "24K" is making highlight reel plays again like UCF fans got accustomed to in his tenure at Central Florida.

Central Florida Rallies in the Second Half To Beat Buffalo

Allen Levin — Sun, 20 Sep 2009 16:11:23 -0400

With the UCF Knights down 17-7 at the half, the team looked like it was headed for its second straight loss after a poor performance in the first half. A Brynn Harvey four-yard TD run and a Nick Cattoi 44-yard field goal in the third quarter rallied the Knights (2-1) to a 23-17 victory over the Buffalo Bulls (1-2) Saturday night at Bright House Networks stadium.

UCF began the game strong on a Harvey two-yard TD run to give the Knights a 7-0 lead at the end of the opening quarter. The Bulls then scored 17 unanswered points in the second quarter to give them a nice lead going into halftime

. Bulls tight end Jesse Rack made up two of those Buffalo scores—one on a six-yard TD reception from Zach Maynard and the other on a 34-yard TD catch from Naaman Roosevelt.

Rack finished the game with 76 yards and two TD's on five receptions for Buffalo.

While the Knights were down at the end of the first half, they certainly weren't out. UCF capitalized on a rejuvenated home crowd and a flowing offense to climb their way back into the football game.

Wake Forest transfer Brett Hodges, who has replaced Rob Calabrese as the team's starting quarterback, combined with Harvey to lead the UCF assault.

In a four minute span, Hodges and Harvey took control of the drive, combining for 73 yards that ended with a Harvey four-yard TD run. Hodges got the drive going, connecting with Kamar Aiken for a 40-yard pass that got UCF into Bulls territory, eventually leading to the Harvey TD to get the Knights within three points.

With under four minutes left in the third, Cattoi knotted the game at 17 with his 44-yard field goal.

The kicker carried his momentum in the fourth, first breaking the tie with a 22-yard field goal and then sealing the game with a 42-yarder with 1:33 left in regulation. Cattoi had three field goals in the second half and was a big contributor in the UCF victory.

While Cattoi, Hodges, and Harvey received most of the credit for the UCF comeback, the Knight defense in the second half cannot go unnoticed. The defense held Buffalo to 97 yards in the final half and only let the Bulls get into their territory twice.

Hodges once again proved his worth, completing 15 of 20 passes for 141 yards, as well as rushing for 71 yards on 13 carries for a very well-rounded game. The QB threw for over 100-yards for the third straight game, which is as many games he's been in a UCF uniform.

The Knights got another strong performance from Harvey, who rushed for 98 yards on 25 carries with two touchdowns. The sophomore back already has more rushing touchdowns than he had all of last year, and is on track to slaughter the 519 yards he posted last season.

The Knights will look to build off their victory against Buffalo when they travel to East Carolina next weekend to face off against a tough Pirate team, who are the reigning Conference-USA East Division champs. The game is set for 3:30 pm.

In QB Brett Hodges, Central Florida has Found Its Knight to Shine in the Huddle

Allen Levin — Fri, 18 Sep 2009 05:06:36 -0400

As the UCF Knights entered the 2008 season, most people focused on their gaping hole at the running back position, after consensus All-American and Heisman Trophy contender Kevin Smith left the team for the NFL.

Analysts and fans turned their attention to who would be Smith’s replacement and who would fill the void left by his shoes. But, what people seemed to forget was the emerging quarterback issues that the team had after the departure of Kyle Israel to graduation. Many fans were disappointed with Israel and criticized him for his lack of composure with the game on the line, namely his performance in the Knights 2007 bowl game against Mississippi State, which the Knights lost 10-3.

But, all in all, Israel was a decent quarterback and one of the primary reasons why UCF was the Conference-USA Champions that year (the main reason being Kevin Smith’s outstanding play). With Israel leaving, the Knights turned to junior Michael Greco and true freshman Rob Calabrese as the team’s potential replacements at the quarterback position.

From the start, it was pretty clear that neither player was the team’s long term solution at quarterback. Greco was limited to his running game, where he was talented as a scrambler, but he never displayed any other attributes and was eventually moved to safety at the end of the season.

Calabrese showed flashes of potential in his freshman year, eventually moving up the depth charts to emerge as the team’s starting quarterback. He led the team in passing yards (664) and touchdown passes (seven), but his play was very inconsistent and he led the team to a dismal 4-8 record and UCF finished dead last in offense in the FBS.

During the most recent offseason, UCF head coach George O’Leary named Calabrese the starter for the 2009 season. But, in the midst of the sophomore being named as the starter, the Knights picked up redshirt senior quarterback Brett Hodges, a transfer from Wake Forest University. Hodges was the backup for the Demon Deacons and received limited playing time in his three years at the ACC University.

When Hodges came to Orlando, the team slotted him as backup quarterback to Calabrese. In UCF’s season opener against a no-name Samford University, Calabrese struggled early in the game. He went three-for-seven for a grand total of 28 yards. So, in the middle of the second quarter, O’Leary decided to replace Calabrese with the newcomer, Brett Hodges.

Hodges shined in his UCF debut, completing 10 of 17 passes for 129 yards and one touchdown pass, ultimately saving the game for the Knights in a close 28-24 victory.

Last week, in UCF’s Conference-USA opener against Southern Miss, Calabrese faltered early, fumbling the ball during a QB sneak, which led to a Golden Eagle touchdown. He was immediately replaced by Hodges, who once again stepped up for the Knights, completing 15-of-26 passes for 158 yards and two touchdown passes.

Although the Knights ended up falling short in the game, it was evident that Hodges was the dominant QB and deserves to be UCF’s starter. In just two games with the Knights, the Wake Forest transfer has already compiled 287 passing yards and three touchdowns, compared to Calabrese’s 49 yards and zero touchdown passes.

Hodges age and experience in a tougher conference has propelled him past Calabrese and he is the clear favorite to be UCF’s go to quarterback for at least the rest of the season.

Hodges is a player that comes from the ACC, where he’s used to seeing nationally ranked squads such as Florida State, Miami, Georgia Tech, and Virginia Tech on a consistent basis. Although he didn’t play much during his tenure at Wake Forest, he still had first hand experiences with top ranked teams and high pressure situations.

With his move to a softer conference, Hodges has the potential to excel in his new role. He has already outplayed his competition in Rob Calabrese and proven that he is of much value to the team. Hodges can provide a veteran leadership to a young UCF team and guide them through a tough schedule, where the Knights will face off against the likes of No. 20 Miami and No. 2 Texas.

Just as UCF looked lost at the quarterback position, Hodges has appeared to be the team’s answer.

Hopefully, with the new found confidence in having a reliable quarterback, the Knights will succeed in 2009 and have the potential to compete for the Conference championship.

UCF Running Back Brynn Harvey Emerges as Knights' Starter

Allen Levin — Thu, 03 Sep 2009 15:46:32 -0400

Last year, the UCF football team entered the season with many holes and questions on its roster. Primarily, it was unknown who would replace Conference-USA Offensive Player of the Year and Consensus All-American Kevin Smith, who was drafted by the Detroit Lions in the 3rd round of last year’s NFL Draft.

Smith’s potential replacements were five unproven and inexperienced freshman running backs all vying for their shot to be first on the depth chart.

After a year of competition and hard work, Brynn Harvey has emerged as the Knight’s starting tailback, after a late season push in which he tallied 311 yards over the season’s final three games.

In addition to Harvey’s late season surge, he has worked very hard over the offseason and made major improvements that everyone from his teammates to his coaches has noticed.

Harvey attributes his progress to his coaches helping him with his strength and conditioning.

“I’ve just been doing what coach has been telling me to do,” Harvey said. “I’ve been working on my cuts and working with the strength and conditioning coaches while working on my speed to try to get my conditioning up.”

Offensive coordinator Charlie Taaffe has noticed the elevation in Harvey’s performance.

“I watched some of the tape when I got here in January,” Taaffe said. “It seems like he had a really good latter part of the season. He was a true freshman coming out of high school and he really improved as the season went on.

“He looks a little leaner, but a lot more solid. His foot work and running game has been much more consistent. His vision is very good and he’s seeing things much better than he did in the spring. He’s making good decisions on his cuts and picked up a step or two in his burst on the line of scrimmage. He’s been extremely impressive.”

While Harvey has certainly made considerable improvements, the transferring of Latavius Murray also boosted Harvey’s chances to move up the depth charts. Murray, who led the Knights in rushing touchdowns last year (three), transferred back to UCF after tearing his ACL.

He also had good things to say about Harvey.

“When you first get out there as a freshman, the game hasn’t slowed down yet,” Murray said. “You are pretty much just getting the ball and running sometimes. He has developed a style and more of a sense of reading which just comes from repetition really.”

Murray will look to be the primary backup to Harvey when he returns from his injury and he thinks he can bring a lot to the table.

“I feel I can bring a different change of pace and just some fresh legs to help out the offense. How the running back depth ends up is up to the coaches…but just helping Brynn learn more of the ins and outs of the football game is something I have taken upon myself.”

When Murray does return from injury, the Knights will be fortified at the running back position with a set depth chart that no longer is a question. UCF will have great depth with all the different strengths and talents that each running back brings.

“All of us bring a little different aspect of running back ability,” Murray said. “It’s just a collective kind of learning curve that we have to come about because some of us learn faster than others. We have a little puppy over there (Brynn Harvey) who is coming up and he is learning and we are trying to bring him up so that he can get to the learning curve that some of the older guys are at.

“All of us are learning new things every day.”

Now that Harvey has a year of experience under his belt, he can work off his progress from the end of last season and develop even further.

Harvey’s late season growth catapulted him into one of the leadership roles on the team, as he finished first in rushing attempts (125), rushing yards (519), and rushing average per game (51.9). His career day came on a late season game against Marshall, where he tore up the Herd defense for 150 yards and a touchdown.

This year he will get an opportunity to do that on a much more consistent basis and he would like to show that off.

“I got more power,” Harvey said. “I want to show my speed. I didn’t get to show that last year, so I would like to show that off.”

With UCF having tough games against the likes of Texas, Miami, and ECU, the Knights will need Harvey to be at top form. By the looks of it with all the improvements he’s made, it won’t come to anyone’s surprise if Harvey has a breakout season.

Standing Pat: Miami Heat's Quiet Offseason All Part of Pat Riley's Master Plan

Allen Levin — Thu, 06 Aug 2009 02:56:43 -0400

As the 2009 NBA offseason winds down and training camp gets closer, we have seen plenty of NBA teams bolster their rosters through trades and free agent signings. It has been a busy offseason, with a lot of big names moving to different cities and a lot of teams adding the one piece they hope will put them over the top.

Championship contenders such as Cleveland, Orlando, Los Angeles, Boston, and San Antonio have all made big moves to strengthen their chances at a title run.

The Cavaliers traded for Shaquille O'Neal, the Magic traded for Vince Carter, the Lakers signed Ron Artest, the Celtics inked Rasheed Wallace, and San Antonio acquired Richard Jefferson.

With that in mind, it is clear that it will be that much harder to vie for a playoff spot in both the Eastern and Western Conference. While even the non-contending teams made upgrades, the Miami Heat have not tampered with their lineup the least bit. They are one of two teams (Utah Jazz) in the NBA that didn't add a veteran free agent in this year's offseason.

In addition to that, Miami has not signed either of their two second round draft picks, Patrick Beverley and Robert Dozier. The only thing the Heat have accomplished this offseason? Resigning their two backup centers, Joel Anthony and Jamaal Magloire, to one-year deals. Other than that minor move, the Miami Heat have been completely quiet.

Although the Heat were quiet in action, they certainly made some noise when it came to trade/free agent speculation.

Rumors started with free agent point guard Allen Iverson. The 10-time All-Star was linked to the Heat for weeks, before talks finally quieted down. Pat Riley was only willing to give Iverson a one-year deal worth the veterans minimum, which appears to be not nearly enough for Iverson.

As Iverson rumors faded, trade rumors started swirling. After the Utah Jazz resigned Paul Millsap, it is clear that forward Carlos Boozer is on his way out. And just like that, Miami was in the headlines for a possible deal that would send Dorrell Wright and Udonis Haslem to Utah in exchange for the disgruntled Boozer.

Boozer publicly expressed his desire to play for the Heat, stating how he has a great friendship with Heat superstar Dwyane Wade and has a home down in Miami. Rumors eventually died down when both Pat Riley and the Jazz publicly announced there was nothing going on.

Then came the most intense action of the summer when free agent Lamar Odom got his multi-year offer withdrawn from Jerry Buss and the Lakers. Riley and the Heat jumped on the opportunity and aggressively pursued the former Heat forward.

Not only did Riley pursue Odom, but Wade got in on the recruitment by using his Twitter account to express his desire to bring Odom back to Miami. He tweeted a message directed for LO, saying "Come back home. Come back to where it all started."

Weeks of speculation passed as Odom left everyone in limbo about his future. After LA withdrew their offer, ESPN reported that Miami and Odom were very close to reaching a deal.

The Heat's proposed offer was for five years and $34 million, which is Miami's entire mid-level exception, with the option to opt out after the fourth year. But, Odom decided to stay with the defending NBA Champions and chose the lure of championships over a South Beach reunion.

After Odom spurned Miami, many Heat fans considered the offseason a failure. Many critics and analysts said the Heat's offseason was lost, especially after the Heat's next biggest target, Jamal Tinsley, canceled a meeting with Miami (although, Tinsley remains in the mix as a potential back up point guard for the team).

But, is this Miami offseason really a failure or is this all part of Pat Riley's master plan?

The saying "patience is a virtue" really comes into play when regarding the Heat's offseason. The fact that Miami didn't use their mid-level exception on Odom combined with the fact that they didn't sign any free agents, means the Heat will have massive amounts of cap space in the highly anticipated 2010 offseason.

The Heat will have the second most salary cap room in the league next year if they go into training camp with their current roster.

And as it stands, it looks like Miami will go into next month's training camp with the roster they have now.

"I don't even know if we're going to add any free agents,'' Riley said. "I'm not looking to make a lateral move unless it was something I thought that could really help us. We're not looking to pick off a free agent for one year when we have players we want to play on our team.''

And that is something that doesn't upset Riley.

"I'm not going to let the negative vibe that we didn't do anything this summer get me down,'' he said. "You've got to have patience." He also added that he knew this year wasn't the Heat's year for a big offseason.

"I'm not frustrated at all. I made the point in June, this really wasn't going to be our year in the free agent market. I'm not going to do something foolhardy now that is going to hurt our chances to put a franchise player around another franchise player.''

So, why not trust the mastermind GM? The Hall of Fame Coach is a genius when it comes to constructing a winning roster. He has pulled through in the past and can pull through now, especially with so much on the line regarding Wade's future.

Everyone made such a big deal on how Wade went public with his displeasure with the Heat's offseason and how he wouldn't extend his contract until a proper supporting cast was placed around him that has the talent to be a contender.

Riley listened to Wade and pursued Lamar Odom fervently, which showed Miami's franchise player that they're committed to building a championship team around him. And since Wade's public frustration a month ago, he has quieted down and realized that Riley has a plan.

Wade has made it clear that he doesn't want people to misconstrue what he is saying. He reiterated that he loves Miami and that there is no bad beef between him and the team President. Riley's non-action this season is all part of his agenda.

Even though the Heat didn't land any marquee players, Riley accomplished something more significant: He gained Wade's trust. After Wade's public demands for help, Riley immediately got on the phones, and before we knew it the Heat were linked to Iverson, Boozer, and Odom.

Now, the Heat can focus on their current roster and look forward to the developments of second year players Michael Beasley and Mario Chalmers, as well as third year player Daequan Cook. In addition, Jermaine O'Neal has been working hard to get his knee back in shape and Riley has been impressed by his progress.

On an even more positive note, Miami will now have enough cap space, as it stands now, to sign another maximum salary free agent in next year's offseason, as well as sign an excellent supporting cast.

A Heat lineup that features Dwyane Wade, a second superstar such as Chris Bosh, and a much-improved Beasley and Chalmers would certainly propel the Heat into the likes of Cleveland, LA, Boston, and Orlando.

In addition to that, everyone seems to forget that the Heat have a team that posted 43 wins last year. And if a couple of games went different, they could have been a 50-win team. With the progression of their youngsters and another superb year from Wade, who's to say the 2009 Miami Heat aren't a 50-win team?

While it is true that the four teams that finished ahead of them in the East standings last season all improved their rosters, the Heat can still be very competitive with the roster they currently showcase.

Let's not forget that the Heat beat all the heavyweights in last year's regular season, including the Lakers, Magic, Cavs, Celtics, and Spurs.

Now that the majority of the offseason is over, one thing is clear: Riley's decision to stand Pat could be a blessing in disguise for the Miami Heat.

Allen Iverson to the Miami Heat: Is Pat Riley Serious?

Allen Levin — Wed, 08 Jul 2009 21:21:49 -0400

Career averages of 27 points, 6.2 assists, and 2.2 steals per game sounds appealing, right? Well, not when you're talking about Allen "no concept of team play" Iverson.

After a tumultuous one-year stint with Detroit, Iverson enters the offseason as a free agent for the first time in his 13-year career. And after an off-year for the 10-time All-Star, in which he complained about lack of playing time and ruined the Pistons' team chemistry, there isn't much of a market for Iverson.

The Memphis Grizzlies and Charlotte Bobcats are considered the two teams that are most actively pursuing Iverson. But there is a third—the Miami Heat.

Last week, the Miami Heat announced their interest in Iverson, with AI saying the interest is mutual. And after Wade went public with his demand for scoring help and a roster upgrade, Iverson shot to the top of the Heat's wish list.

"With AI, you look at a guy who is one of the best guys to ever put on an NBA jersey,'' Wade said in a radio interview Monday. "A guy who can still score in the right offense, in the right flow. So you can never turn your nose up at a guy like Allen Iverson. I hear a lot of people that love and want to come to Miami, but it hasn't happened yet.''

Iverson responded to the comments by almost hinting that Miami was his preferred destination.

"The fact that Dwyane is there and Pat Riley has something to do with personnel, it seems like a great situation," Iverson said. "I just want a situation where I can win and be happy. Being that those two guys are there, man, it just seems it'll be a good deal.''

So, now that the interest is mutual and an Iverson-Miami marriage is possible, I have one question: What is Pat Riley thinking?

Was Riley too busy in the front office to notice Iverson's year with the Pistons? Did he happen to see that Iverson refused to come off the bench and act like a child instead of a veteran?

The Miami Heat are an up-and-coming team with a young nucleus that is led by a superstar in Dwyane Wade. While the team certainly needs some veteran leadership, Iverson is not that type of player. He complains, hurts team chemistry, and has a bad attitude. These are all characteristics that are not typical of a Pat Riley-built team.

Of course, there are always reasons behind Riley personnel moves. Just a couple of days ago Wade went public, saying that he will only remain with Miami Heat past next season if the team moves into championship contention. He went as far as to say that simply winning is not enough anymore. He wants to win more championships while he is in the prime of his career. And if the Heat can't offer him that, he is packing his bags.

Also, with many other Eastern Conference teams bolstering their rosters this offseason, Riley feels pressured to make some sort of a move. Vince Carter went to the Magic, Hedo Turkuglu went to the Raptors, Rasheed Wallace signed with the Celtics, and Shaq was traded to the Cavaliers. All the top East teams made moves, which worries Riley and angers Wade.

Riley's goal is to keep Wade content and convince him to sign a contract extension now so he can avoid letting Wade test the open market.

But, Allen Iverson?

Not to take anything away from Iverson's storied career, but he simply isn't fit for a Heat uniform. Iverson has proven himself as someone who can't win because of his selfishness and shoot-first mentality. With Wade being the go-to guy in Miami, how can the two stars co-exist? If that's not enough, look to the saying "history repeats itself."

Back in the 2006 season, when Iverson was traded to Denver, expectations were high. The duo of AI and Carmelo Anthony was supposed to be dynamic, a duo that would push them into championship contention.

But instead of becoming title contenders, they fell into mediocrity. Iverson ended up getting dealt to the Pistons, and in the blink of an eye the Nuggets became an elite Western Conference team, while the Pistons plummeted to the eighth seed.

Iverson has never won a championship and has only gotten close to it once (2001). Even in the prime of his career, he never had what it took to be a champion. His ego always got in the way.

While I understand Riley's motives for wanting an immediate upgrade, there are still other dilemmas.

How about Miami's emerging point guard Mario Chalmers? Chalmers started at point guard in all 82 games of his rookie year and showed glimpses of greatness. If the Heat signed AI, wouldn't that hamper Chalmers growth? Who would come off the bench? We have already seen Iverson complain about a bench role, saying he'd "rather retire than come off the bench."

All in all, Iverson is still a great player and has game left in the tank. On the right team with the right amount of playing time, Iverson could still put up big scoring numbers. But is the Miami Heat the right team for the aging guard?

If signing Iverson keeps Dwyane Wade happy, then I am all for it. While I personally think it's a bad idea, maybe Iverson will fit in with the team. Maybe Pat Riley's resume and reputation will bring Iverson down a few notches and he can put his ego aside.

Also, Riley intends on making no long-term deals until Wade commits, so signing Iverson to a one-year deal wouldn't be too dangerous.

If Riley's resume can calm down Iverson, and if Wade stays happy, and Chalmers and Iverson find a way to play together, then I am all for an Iverson to South Beach deal.

Miami Heat Season Recap: Where Dwyane Wade Happened

Allen Levin — Sun, 05 Jul 2009 21:38:03 -0400

Just one year after a disastrous, injury-filled, 15-67 season, the Miami Heat bounced back and returned to the postseason. In just one year, they transformed from the worst team in the league to emerge as the fifth seed in the East and push the Atlanta Hawks to seven games in their first round match up.

There turnaround was anything but smooth, as their roster, head coach, and team character was retooled after finishing with the league’s worst record in the 2007-2008 season.

Almost as soon as the 2007-08 season ended, changes started happening. Pat Riley stepped down as head coach and promoted Erik Spoelstra as his successor. Then there was the NBA Draft, in which the Heat owned the second overall pick. They took Michael Beasley with the pick and selected Mario Chalmers with their second round pick. And just like that, the Miami Heat went from one of the older teams in the league into one of the youngest. They had a supporting cast of two rookies, one sophomore in Daequan Cook, and other young players such as Chris Quinn.

With a new coach, new rookies, and a healthy Dwyane Wade, the Miami Heat were on their way to a rebound season.

With their new roster in place, the Heat started out slow, playing very inconsistent, which is typical of a young team that featured two rookies in their opening night starting lineup (Chalmers and Beasley). The Heat’s first 25 games was an array of inconsistency, with win then loss, win then loss, as they started out the season 13-12. While their record was nothing spectacular, it was still a far cry from the prior season’s 7-18 start.

As the season progressed, Miami started to come together and play with a higher level of consistency. They reeled off some impressive wins over top teams such as the Lakers, Cavaliers, Magic, and Spurs.

Dwyane Wade led a young core of players in a remarkable turnaround year for the All-Star guard. After a season plagued by injuries, Wade bounced back strong and showed the critics that he could still play. By the All-Star break in February, Wade was the NBA’s leading scorer and led his Miami Heat to a notable 28-24 record.

With the Heat sitting strong in the East’s fifth spot and looking to move into the coveted fourth spot, Pat Riley made headlines with a blockbuster deal just before All-Star Weekend. Riley traded Shawn Marion and Marcus Banks for six-time All-Star Jermaine O’Neal and small forward Jamario Moon. The hope was that O’Neal would establish some type of post presence and help balance Miami’s ball movement and play.

While O’Neal certainly had some great moments and helped the Heat into the postseason, he never really emerged as the player the Heat expected him to be. He had trouble becoming the Heat’s offensive inside presence and had a major issue with rebounding. A career average of 7.6 rebounds per game fell to 5.4 rebounds with the Heat. But, Jermaine was an excellent shooter and an outstanding defensive presence. He was a great shot blocker for the Heat as they stepped up their defense in the post, which was primarily because of O’Neal’s presence.

During the All-Star weekend, Miami was represented by Wade, Beasley, and Cook. Beasley participated in the rookie-sophomore game, in which he led the rookies with 29 points. Cook kept up his hot three-point shooting by winning the three-point contest, becoming the third player in Heat history to win the award. But, All-Star weekend saw all eyes on Wade, as his MVP-hype was the talk of the weekend and his recognition for an MVP candidate increased.

By March, Wade catapulted himself into the MVP talks with his fantastic play. People were starting to notice Wade was not only proficient on the offensive end, but on the defensive side as well. He became the only player in NBA history that is 6'4" or shorter to block 100 shots in a season. Wade also became the only player in the league to amass at least 100 blocks and 100 steals in a season.

But Wade’s statement for his MVP campaign came in a game late in February against the New York Knicks. Wade exploded for 46 points, with 24 of them coming in the fourth quarter. He also put up 10 assists, eight rebounds, four blocks, and four steals to solidify himself as a top three MVP candidate along with LeBron James and Kobe Bryant.

The final two months of the season saw the Heat finish with inconsistency, as they went a mediocre 15-15 after the midseason acquisition for JO and Moon. The Heat spent the final two months of the season battling out the 4^th seed with the Atlanta Hawks. In the end, the Hawks would capture the fourth seed with the Heat clinching the 5^th seed and finishing the year with a respectable 43-39 record.

Miami would take on the Atlanta Hawks in a first round matchup that saw plenty of surprises. With the Heat back in the playoffs, Miami was full of excitement with the team’s playoff theme called “Back in Black.”

Although this was a highly anticipated series, it was a series that was void of drama and full of blowouts. The Heat would push the Hawks to seven games, but every game in the series was decided by 10 or more points and most games were decided by halftime. Although the Heat lost the series, they still won three games and Heat fans were excited to see them back in the playoffs after their one year absence.

With the 2008-2009 campaign over, it’s time to reflect on the Miami Heat’s season. The Heat had a great and unexpected turnaround year. They revamped their roster and benefited from all the changes as they pushed themselves back into the playoffs and provided hope for the future.

While the Heat getting back to the playoffs was a major story of Miami’s season, the amazing play of Dwyane Wade is what really emerged as the top story in South Beach this year. Wade unquestionably played the best year of basketball in his career, taking the NBA scoring crown with 30.2 PPG and propelled himself into MVP talks.

In the end, Wade finished third in MVP voting, but no one will forget the year he had. It was a year filled of accolades and highlight reels for the six-year veteran nicknamed “Flash.” Wade became the Miami Heat's all-time leading scorer, surpassing franchise legend Alonzo Mourning. He was also a two-time Eastern Conference Player of the Month, a three-time Eastern Conference Player of the Week, and finished third in voting for the Defensive Player of the Year Award.

Wade capped off his brilliant year by becoming the only player in league history to post at least 2,000 points, 500 assists, 150 steals, and 100 blocks during a single season. Simply put, Dwyane Wade was "Amazing" this year.

While Wade made all the headlines, other Heat players had strong years. Beasley had solid rookie campaign, making the All-Rookie first team and was the Heat’ second leading scorer. Point guard Mario Chalmers made the All-Rookie second team and was third in the league in steals. Also, Head Coach Erik Spoelstra had a great rookie year of coaching, guiding Miami back to the postseason and finishing seventh in Coach of the Year voting.

With the year over now, the Miami Heat will focus in on the offseason. Miami had two second round draft picks, the 43rd and 60th overall picks. With the 43rd pick, they selected Marcus Thornton, who they immediately traded to New Orleans for a pair of second-rounders—one in 2010 and one in 2012. Then they traded for the draft rights of guard Patrick Beverley. He is a 6'1" point guard that played at Arkansas his junior year, before playing in Ukraine for one year.

Miami then drafted Robert Dozier with the final pick in the draft. Dozier is a 6'9" forward from Memphis. Both Beverley and Dozier aren't expected to be big contributors, but there's hope Beverely can make the rotation after some impressive work outs.

As for free agents, both Jamario Moon and Joel Anthony are restricted free agents, which the Heat made qualifying offers to. But, the speculation in Miami is that they might make a push for Chris Bosh. With Bosh stating his intentions of testing out the free agent waters in 2010, the Raptors are considering trading their superstar in order to get something for him.

Miami has been considered a top target for Bosh. The Heat have trading chips in Udonis Haslem and Michael Beasley, but Miami is reluctant to let go of Beasley.

If Bosh doesn’t land in Miami this offseason, the Heat will still have a great opportunity to sign the big man come 2010. As for next year, the Heat will still be led by their co-captains Wade and Haslem and have a great young core of Beasley, Chalmers, and Cook. In addition, Jermaine O’Neal will look to step up and become more of a factor in Miami’s offense.

Other notable offseason highlights include long time Miami hero Alonzo Mourning officially announcing his retirement from the NBA. Miami honored the long time franchise son by retiring his number 33. Mourning recently returned to Miami as the team hired him to work with the team in a player development role that also will allow him to serve as a mentor both on and off the court.

All in all, the Miami Heat had a very successful year that witnessed a lot of great moments for the franchise. But the 2008-2009 Miami Heat season can be described as where Dwyane Wade happened.

Dwyane Wade vs. Carmelo Anthony: Who's the Better Player?

Allen Levin — Sat, 06 Jun 2009 15:32:43 -0400

Last week, during halftime of Game Two of the Eastern Conference Finals matchup between the Orlando Magic and the Cleveland Cavaliers, TNT analysts Charles Barkley and Kenny Smith were discussing both the Eastern and Western Finals matchups. They proceeded to discuss the rise of the Denver Nuggets and how they transformed into a better team since the deal for Chauncey Billups. They also attributed a lot of the Nuggets success to the play of Carmelo Anthony.

Both Smith and Barkley commented on how Anthony had stepped up his game, evolved into a better player, and elevated into one of the best scorers in the NBA. They said that Anthony moved up to the ranks of Kobe Bryant and LeBron James when it came to scoring talent. Then Sir Charles said Carmelo Anthony had surpassed Dwyane Wade as the better scorer and better overall player.

While Kenny Smith and the other TNT analysts debated that comment, none of them actually refuted it completely. This comment angered and upset me and fueled me to write an article debating the issue: Who is the better player: Dwyane Wade or Carmelo Anthony?

Kobe Bryant is a better player than Dwyane Wade: Fair statement. LeBron James is a better player than Dwyane Wade: Fair statement. Carmelo Anthony is a better player than Dwyane Wade: Wait just one minute. Since when is that a fair statement?

Carmelo is an outstanding basketball player. He was the No. 3 overall pick back in the 2003 draft. He is an excellent scorer, a great driver, an above-average defender, a good rebounder, and a decent shooter. He has the ability to take over a game with his scoring and has the ability to light up opposing teams with 40-point efforts. He has also made the playoffs every year that he has been in the league. There is no question that Anthony is a top 10 player in the NBA and a highly coveted player by all teams when his contract is up in 2010.

Then there is Dwyane Wade. He is also a phenomenal player. He was the No. 5 overall pick in the 2003 draft. He is a prolific scorer, a stellar defender, a great passer, a great shooter from inside the arc, and a good rebounder. He also has the ability to score at will and take over games with high-octane scoring efforts. In addition, his ability to drive to the rim is like no other. Also, D-Wade has made it to the postseason every year he has been in the league besides the 2007-2008 season. Like Anthony, Wade will also be a highly coveted free agent when his contract is up in 2010.

Looking at the previous two paragraphs, both Anthony and Wade look like similar players with similar strengths. Based on those facts, it might be hard to distinguish the two players and truly say who is the better player. But, if you take a closer look, it is clear that Dwyane Wade is the superior player and that Carmelo Anthony takes a backseat to his draft class counterpart.

Right off the bat, Wade has something that Anthony doesn't: A championship ring. Wade's Miami Heat won the 2006 NBA title with Wade being named the Finals MVP. In just Wade's third year as a pro, he elevated to the top of the basketball world and became the 5th youngest player in NBA history to win the award.

If a championship and Finals MVP award aren't enough to separate the two, let's look at Wade's long list of accomplishments. He is a five-time NBA All-Star, an Olympic gold-medalist, and the 2006 Sportsman of the Year. He is a member of the All-NBA First Team (2009), a two-time All-NBA Second Team member (2005,06), and an All-NBA Third Team member (2007). In addition, he has made the All-NBA defensive team twice (2005, 2009), as well as being a two-time Playstation Skills Champion, which he won back-to-back in 2006 and 2007.

On top of all those accolades, he added a lot to his resume in 2009. He was the NBA scoring champion this year with 30.2 points per game. He also became the Miami Heat's all-time leading scorer, surpassing franchise legend Alonzo Mourning. He was a two-time Eastern Conference Player of the Month, a three-time Eastern Conference Player of the Week, and finished third in the voting for both the Most Valuable Player Award and the Defensive Player of the Year Award.

While you might be thinking that these accomplishments are all offense-oriented, you must know that Wade became the first player in NBA history that is 6'4" or shorter to block 100 shots in a season. Need more defensive stats? Wade became the only player in the league to amass at least 100 blocks and 100 steals in a season.

And, as if he didn't accomplish enough in the 2009 campaign, he capped it off by becoming the only player in league history to post at least 2,000 points, 500 assists, 150 steals, and 100 blocks during a single season. Simply put, Dwyane Wade was "Amazing" this year.

Since I listed all of Wade's magnificent accomplishments, it is only fair to provide a counter-argument for Anthony.

Anthony is a an Olympic gold-medalist, the USA Basketball Male Athlete of the Year (2006), a two-time NBA All-Star, a three-time member of the All-NBA third team, and rookie challenge MVP. In addition, he has a numerous amount of collegiate awards, including winning an NCAA championship with Syracuse in his freshman year.

While Anthony has had plenty of success in the regular season and as a scorer overall, he hasn't made much noise in the playoffs. This year was the first time in his six-year career that he even made it past the first round of the playoffs. In Wade's six-year career, he has made it to the postseason five times and advanced past the first round three of those times.

If those awards and merits aren't enough to prove that Wade is the better overall player and scorer, let's look at simple statistics. D-Wade has career averages of 25.2 PPG, 6.7 assists, 4.9 rebounds, 1.8 steals, and 1.0 blocks per game. Anthony has career averages of 24.2 PPG, 6.1 rebounds, 3.1 assists, 1.1 steals, and 0.4 blocks per game. Wade is a career 48 percent shooter from the field, while Anthony is a 46 percent shooter. So, other than rebounds, Wade beats out Anthony in every statistical category and let's not forget-Carmelo is four inches taller than Wade.

But, the main thing that irked me from Barkley's pompous statement was the fact that he called Anthony the better scorer. How has Anthony surpassed Wade as the better scorer when Wade was this year's scoring champion and has better career scoring numbers than the Nuggets star?

And if you want to see even more proof that Wade is the better scorer, let this stat swirl around in your head. Wade had 13 games this year in which he scored 40 points or more, including three 50-point efforts. Carmelo had three 40-point games this year, including the postseason.

Simply put, Wade is the better overall player and certainly the better scorer. Wade has a unique ability to drive to the rim, contort his body in mid air, take contact, and finish with emphasis. He can shoot from almost anywhere on the floor and even developed a three-point shot this year, making 88 three-pointers this year, which annihilates his previous career-high of 22. He is also one of the best dunkers in the league, having the talent to dunk over opponents twice his size. There is a reason Shaq dubbed D-Wade the name "Flash," and I think his game speaks for itself.

This is not to say Carmelo isn't a magnificent scorer, because he certainly is. Anthony has a great knack for getting to the rim, taking contact, and finishing. He is a great dunker and uses his size to take it the whole and space the floor. He can shoot from most spots on the floor and will hit clutch shots from beyond the arc when his number is called.

But overall, Dwyane Wade is the better basketball player than Carmelo Anthony. His statistics, numerous accolades, and MVP Finals award prove that. He has simply accomplished more in his career and has been a better player than his 2003 draft class buddy. While Anthony is a top 10 player in the NBA, Wade is a top five player that has truly embodied the word "Amazing," and after this year's unreal performance, he has truly proven that he is the better player.

NBA Finals: Lakers Overpower Magic in Game One

Allen Levin — Fri, 05 Jun 2009 17:35:55 -0400

After a convincing Eastern Conference Finals win in six games over the top-seeded Cleveland Cavaliers, the Orlando Magic looked to be this year's Cinderella story. But last night, the Los Angeles Lakers knocked the Magic down a few levels with a 100-75 rout in Game One of the 2009 NBA Finals in L.A.

The Lakers proved they are ready to play and make up for last year's NBA Finals defeat to the Boston Celtics by not letting the hype of the Magic get to them. Kobe Bryant led the purple and gold with 40 points, eight rebounds, eight assists, two steals, and two blocks, showing that he is out for redemption and hungry for his fourth NBA ring.

Bryant lit up the Staples Center with aggressive offense and defense to go along with 47 percent shooting from the field and a perfect eight-for-eight from the free-throw line. Pau Gasol added 16 points and eight boards to help the Lakers take the contest.

Orlando simply never got it going. They shot a lackluster 29 percent from the field in the game, mostly because the Lakers played a suffocating defense. Los Angeles outscored the Magic 47-32 in the second half; Kobe alone had 18 in the third.

It seems that, with the sting of last year's Finals defeat still on their minds, the Lakers made sure to come out strong and vindictive. It also helped that last year's MVP filled up the stat sheet.

“I just want it so bad, that’s all,” Bryant said. “I just want it really bad."

With Kobe extremely motivated to get L.A. their 15th franchise title and the rest of the Laker team on a mission, it will be extremely hard for the Magic to pull off the upset.

The return of All-Star point guard Jameer Nelson boosted Orlando's confindence and made them feel they could work off of their success against LeBron James and the Cavs. But Nelson, who was clearly rusty, only posted six points and four assists in 23 minutes of play.

The Magic were led by center Dwight Howard, who had 12 points and 15 boards. Mickael Pietrus had a team-high 14 for Orlando, but the Magic, who normally are fueled by a team effort and a well-rounded offense, couldn't find scoring from anyone else on their roster.

Starters Hedo Turkoglu, Rashard Lewis, and Rafer Alston combined for a mere 27 points. Such a dismal performance was the product of a tough Laker defense and a poor team shooting night for the Magic. Orlando was eight-of-23 from the three-point line.

“We’ve never had a shooting night this bad,” Howard said. “We’ve just got to come out and play a lot harder than we did tonight.”

Revenge might be hard to come by; consider that the Lakers are 43-0 under coach Phil Jackson in series when his team wins Game One.

If the Magic look to break their opponent's streak and win their franchise's first NBA title, they will need to rebound in Game Two, which is set for Sunday night in L.A.

The Top Five Players of the 2009 NBA Playoffs

Allen Levin — Tue, 19 May 2009 17:50:40 -0400

The NBA playoffs are truly where amazing happens. And the 2009 NBA postseason has been nothing short of amazing. Overtimes, game winning shots, spectacular dunks, and highlight worthy plays have all characterized this year's playoffs. This list is the top five performers of this years playoffs and not necessarily statistically. These are the players who have meant most to their team and are the most intangible when it comes to helping their team win.

Begin Slideshow

Denver Nuggets Have Become Feel Good Story Of 2009 Playoffs

Allen Levin — Mon, 18 May 2009 19:59:27 -0400

Back in 2006 when the Denver Nuggets and the Philadelphia 76ers made the blockbuster deal that sent Allen Iverson to the Nuggets for Andre Miller and Joe Smith, Denver had high hopes for a championship. They thought the superstar tandem of Iverson and Carmelo Anthony would bring Denver to the next level and get them an NBA championship.

Unfortunately for the Nuggets, that duo never gelled and was nothing better than a mediocre team that couldn't make it out of the first round. After a year with the team, it was evident that Iverson would not bring glory to Denver and that a change was needed. Three games into the season this year, the Nuggets sent the superstar to the Detroit Pistons for Chauncey Billups.

The trade for Billups completely transformed the makeup of the Nuggets and turned them into a championship contending team. Under Billups leadership, Denver won 54 games, the Northwest Division, and sky rocketed into the second seed in the crowded Western Conference.

They went from a team that had trouble just making the postseason last year to a team that is disciplined, defensive-minded, and championship worthy. The Nuggets whole attitude and mindset changed and they went from a team without an identity to a fundamental basketball team that takes care of business on both sides of the ball.

And with all of their recent success, the Denver Nuggets have become the feel good story of this year's NBA playoffs. They are breezing through the playoffs, beating the New Orleans Hornets in the first round in five games and then taking care of the Dallas Mavericks in five games in the second round.

Now they are off to the Western Conference Finals for the first time since 1985 to face off against the defending West Champs, the Los Angeles Lakers. While Kobe Bryant and the Lakers might seem like a daunting task, these Nuggets are focused and prepared.

They are 8-2 in the playoffs so far and have won 16 straight games on their homecourt, while the Lakers are tired and battle-tested after just finishing off a grueling seven-game series with the Houston Rockets.

While the Nuggets are considered the underdog in this series, no one on Denver is thinking that way.

"It’s special. We worked hard in the offseason and training camp and throughout,” Anthony said. “We stuck to everything, we overcame adversity, we stayed humble and our hard work paid off.”

Everyone is really enjoying Denver's turnaround and fans are having fun watching their success. But, most of that success has to be attributed to Mr. Big Shot himself, Chauncey Billups.

He has become a vocal floor floor leader for his hometown team that has brought veteran leadership and a defensive mindset to the team. He has transformed the Nuggets into a fundamental squad that's all business.

“He’s a leader,” Carmelo Anthony said of Billups. “He came on this team and he brought a businesslike attitude to our team. He brought a defensive mindset we were looking for.”

And with that business-like attitude, the Denver Nuggets will look to challenge the top-seeded Lakers. And if they can pull off the upset, they will be one step closer to an NBA title and truly being the 2009 Cinderella story.

Ray Allen's Inconsistency Hurting the Boston Celtics

Allen Levin — Fri, 15 May 2009 13:36:09 -0400

As the Boston Celtics try to defend their crown without their superstar forward and team leader, Kevin Garnett, one thing is evident: Ray Allen's inconsistency in this year's postseason has clearly hurt the defending champions.

For the second straight year, the Celtics are being pushed to a decisive Game Seven in their first and second round matchups. Last year, it was the Atlanta Hawks and Cleveland Cavaliers that pushed Boston to the edge. This year, it was the pesky Chicago Bulls and now the Orlando Magic.

Last night, the Magic, facing elimination, forced a Game Seven back in Boston with an 83-75 victory in Orlando. On Tuesday night, the Celtics rallied from a 14-point fourth quarter deficit to take a commanding 3-2 lead in the best-of-seven series and had a chance to close out Orlando.

Instead, the Magic took care of business on their home floor, getting a 23-point, 22-rebound effort from Dwight Howard to send the series back to the Garden. A major reason for Boston's inability to close out the series? The inconsistency of shooting guard Ray Allen.

As the Celtics are set to play their 14th game of the 2009 NBA Playoffs, it is clear that they win when Allen is on and they lose when Allen struggles. In games where Allen scores less than 10 points, the Celtics are 0-4. In games where he scores 10 or more, Boston is 7-2.

It's simple: When Allen has a lackluster night or his offensive production is down, Boston loses.

Another major inconsistency in Allen's game in this year's postseason has been his three-point shooting. In Boston's playoff losses so far, Allen has shot a pitiful 28 percent from beyond the arc, while in wins he has shot 43 percent. He shot 41 percent from the three-point line in the regular season, so his poor three-point shooting is odd.

Not only has Allen been shooting bad in losses, he has been downright terrible. There has already been four games where he has missed all of his shots from beyond the arc, including an 0-for-seven effort in last night's loss.

He has been having dismal performances for most of the Celtics semifinals series with Orlando. He is shooting 23-for-75 overall in the series, which is an uncharacteristic 30 percent.

Allen shoots 45 percent from the field and 40 percent from beyond the arc in his storied career, but hasn't even come close to those numbers in this year's postseason.

He is averaging a meager 39.4 percent from the floor and 34 percent from the three-point line in the 13 games of the Celtics postseason this year, which is very uncharacteristic of his career and typical postseason numbers.

While he is still averaging 17.9 points per game overall in the playoffs, his overall inconsistency has hurt Boston's chances of repeating. He will need to get out of his slump and start helping captain Paul Pierce and Rajon Rondo shoulder the offensive load.

Allen's shooting really helps space the floor for the C's and they are at their best when he is knocking down his shots.

If the Boston Celtics want to advance past the second round and have an opportunity to play for their 18th NBA title, they will certainly need Ray Allen and his shooting touch back to full form. With the Big Three not fully intact, they're going to need some consistency from the man they call "Jesus."

Heat-Hawks Recap: Miami-Atlanta Series a Very Odd One

Allen Levin — Thu, 14 May 2009 19:59:33 -0400

With the Miami Heat's season ending last week at the hands of the Atlanta Hawks, it must be mentioned what a peculiar series the first round matchup was between the two ball clubs.

Most NBA analysts predicted a tough, grind it out series between two evenly matched teams that would see the full seven games. While the Heat-Hawks series reached seven games, it was anything but the expected close and rough it out series. Oddly enough, every single game was a blowout that was decided by the second quarter.

Making it even more odd was the fact that the blowouts weren't just on each team's respective homecourt, but also on the road. When the Hawks won Game One in dominating fashion with a 90-64 win, most analysts thought that it would be difficult for the Heat to recover in Game Two, especially being on the road. But, oddly enough, the Heat rebounded with their own dominating 108-93 victory.

Miami then returned to American Airlines Arena with homecourt advantage and prime position to take command of the series. It looked like that would be the case after another blowout victory in Game Three, with Miami winning 107-78. Once again, the quarterfinals series went different than anticipated with Atlanta winning Game Four on Miami's home floor by a double-digit margin.

With the series knotted at two a piece, many people thought that the intensity would be turned up for the final three games of the series, but once again everyone was mistaken. The next three games saw three more blowouts that were all over early. And after a long seven game series, everyone left puzzled as we witnessed blowout after blowout with very little lead changes or even general excitement.

While the series was certainly physical and had a lot of pushing, shoving, and hard fouls, there was really never any question who was going to win each game. The series also had some common trends that showed who was going to win each game.

First of all, the team that won the rebounding battle won the first six games of the series.The only exception was Game Seven when the Heat outrebounded the Hawks 39-30 and still lost. Another odd stat that existed was that there wasn't even one lead change after the second quarter during the entire seven game series.

Other common trends in the series were the three-point shooting by Miami. In victories, the Heat averaged 47 percent from beyond the arc, while in losses they averaged 24 percent.

The series simply lacked any form of drama besides the few hard fouls, typical trash-talking, and barrage of highlight reel dunks by Atlanta's Josh Smith. Every game was decided by double-digits, with the closest game being a 10-point victory by the Hawks in Game Four. The average margin of victory in the series was 19, with no real question who was going to win the game by the time halftime rolled around.

The series was simply an odd one that really offers no explanations. The League's scoring champion Dwyane Wade still averaged 29.1 points per game in the series, which is only one point under his regular season average of 30.2 PPG. Many aspects of the series made it seem like it would have been a grind it out series, but it never turned into that type of series.

While there are obvious explanations for some of the blowouts such as Atlanta limiting Miami's role players, or Joe Johnson's lack of production, or the injuries that occurred through the series, it still was very odd that there wasn't even one close, edge of your seat type game.

Now that both the Atlanta Hawks and Miami Heat are eliminated from the playoffs, we can only speculate on what made their Eastern Conference first round matchup so odd and so different from typical four versus five seed matchups. We can be sure that next year that every time Miami and Atlanta square off, it will be much closer, much more exciting, and filled with a lot more passion and drama.

Heat-Hawks: Miami on Brink of Elimination; Physicality Key to Game Six

Allen Levin — Fri, 01 May 2009 19:47:33 -0400

As the Miami Heat sit on the brink of elimination from the 2009 NBA playoffs, one thing is evident: The Heat need to get downright physical. Miami needs to play like a Pat Riley constructed squad. They need to play how the Alonzo Mourning and Tim Hardaway teams did back in the late 1990s. And that all starts with suffocating defense.

The Miami Heat/Atlanta Hawks first round series has been marked as a series of blowouts. The average margin of victory through the first five games is 19, with the closest game being a 10-point victory by Atlanta in Game Four.

The main reason for the barrage of lopsided victories? The lack of physicality and intensity portrayed by either team in the losses.

As the the Heat approach Game Six, they find themselves behind 3-2 in their best-of-seven quarterfinals matchup. And for Miami to stave of elimination, they are going to have to match Atlanta's physicality and play lock down defense. That will start with the Heat's starting frontcourt.

Fortunate for Miami, both of the Hawks starting forwards, Al Horford and Marvin Williams, will be missing the pivotal Game Six due to injuries. Horford landed awkwardly on his ankle in Wednesday's Game Five victory and Williams has been plagued by a wrist injury throughout the entire series.

Miami will need Jermaine O'Neal and Udonis Haslem to step up and have big games. They need to take advantage of Atlanta's thin frontcourt and dominate on the glass. O'Neal and Haslem's inside presence will also be instrumental for the Heat's success tonight.

In Miami's two wins of the series, the two frontcourt mates have combined for 63 points and 36 rebounds while in their three losses, they combined for 60 points and 33 rebounds.

The Heat will also have the advantage of being highly motivated for this Game Six matchup in Miami. After Game Five's showboating antics by the Hawks, mainly Josh Smith's attempt at a through the leg dunk with the game already decided, the Heat will be a fired up team.

They will be playing with emotion and intensity and will be riled up by a hostile American Airlines Arena.

“We were very insulted by it,” Wade said, referring to the Smith dunk.

The Heat will work off the emotion of Game Five. Hard fouls, flagrant fouls, and near fights all epitomized the atmosphere of the game. Miami will work off that emotion and playoff atmosphere.

Dwyane Wade had to be separated from Solomon Jones after a hard foul by the Atlanta big man, which almost ignited a fight. Then, later on in the game, Wade was called for a flagrant for a "hard foul" on Maurice Evans, which erupted the crowd and really made the series heated.

We can expect Dwyane Wade to have a huge game after loosing two straight, and taking it personal that the Hawks were showboating in the games final minutes. He is the Heat's captain and he will rile up his troops for the game. He is going to try to lead by example and let his intensity motivate his supporting cast.

Wade, who has been limited by back spasms, said he felt a lot better Friday afternoon and will hope to get into the game immediately instead of in the second half.

In Wednesday's loss, Wade had a lackluster first half performance, only to heat up in the second half when the game was already decided and finish with 29 points. A healthier and motivated Wade will really boost Miami's chances tonight.

But, the most crucial key to the Heat's success tonight is their physical play. If they can utilize the rowdy home crowd, play suffocating defense, and outrebound their opponents while shoving around Atlanta's frontcourt, they will be able to overcome the Hawks.

And with an extra emotional Dwyane Wade, it wouldn't be any surprise if the Miami Heat forced a take-it-all Game Seven in Atlanta.

Hawks-Heat: Miami Plays Near-Perfect Game, Takes 2-1 Series Lead

Allen Levin — Sun, 26 Apr 2009 23:41:58 -0400

Another outstanding performance from the Miami Heat's supporting cast, another playoff victory. In Game Three of the Eastern Conference quarterfinals, Miami took a 2-1 series lead in a convincing 107-78 win over the Atlanta Hawks Saturday night.

Just like in Game Two of the best-of-seven series, the Heat got a stellar performance from their role players, which translated into a routing of the fourth-seeded Hawks. They helped the Heat win the crucial Game Three at a sold-out American Airlines Arena in Miami. And when teams split the first two games of an NBA series, the Game Three winner advances 76 percent of the time.

Dwyane Wade led the way for Miami, posting 29 points, eight assists, seven rebounds, four blocks, and one steal. He also was 4-for-8 from the three-point line and 10-for-21 from the field. Wade had two highlight-reel dunks over Josh Smith and Al Horford, showing off everything in his offensive and defensive arsenal.

But, the true story of the game was the contributions from the supporting cast. Midseason acquisition Jermaine O'Neal stepped up for the second straight game, contributing 22 points, 10 rebounds, and three blocks. His double-double in Game Three followed a 19-point, six-rebound, four-block effort in Game Two.

While Wade and O'Neal were Miami's top scorers, the Heat got double-figure scoring from everyone in the starting lineup. Rookie Mario Chalmers had 15 points and four steals, Udonis Haslem had 12 points and 13 boards, and James Jones had 11 points on 3-for-3 shooting from beyond the arc.

“It’s not so much Wade, but that supporting cast that is making such a difference,” Josh Smith said. “If we can’t stop them, it’s going to make them a very tough team to beat.”

Not only did Miami have a great offensive game, but they had a stellar defensive effort that could be seen right in the opening minutes. The Heat had five blocks in the first quarter alone and 12 blocks in the game. The Heat also forced 10 turnovers in the game.

But, the defensive effort was felt immensely in the first half as Miami limited the Hawks to 29 points. The Heat portrayed some of their best defensive intensity of the entire season, and it came at the most important time—the postseason. The Heat frustrated the Hawks, forcing them to take off-balance shots, ruining their offensive flow. Atlanta seemed confused and helpless as Wade and O'Neal were blocking shots from every angle.

“We knew there would be a lot of energy in the building, so we played off that early,” Wade said. “And defensively we came out very tough.”

With the loss, the Hawks extended their decade-long road playoff drought. They are 0-12 on the road in the postseason since 1997, with all but one loss being by double digits. That includes all four blowout losses to the eventual champion Boston Celtics in last year's first-round matchup between the two squads.

After Game One's mishap, the Heat certainly have seemed to adjust from the mistakes that plagued them in the series opener. In Game One, the Heat went 4-for-23 from the three-point line. In Games Two and Three, they recovered for a combined 27-for-49 from beyond the arc, which is an astonishing 55 percent. In Game One, Miami got outrebounded 50-35 by Atlanta. In Games Two and Three, they recovered to outrebound the Hawks 88-68, including 48-35 in Game Three.

The Heat have been playing very good team basketball since their Game One wake up call and have really been firing on all cylinders. The Heat will look to continue that effort when they host Game Four Monday night, which could change the entire series.

If Miami can defend their homecourt and pick up a victory Monday, they will take a commanding 3-1 series lead and have a chance to close it out in Atlanta on Wednesday night.

“All of this doesn’t really mean anything unless you get this next game,” Heat coach Erik Spoelstra said.

Atlanta Hawks Spank Miami Heat and Take Game One In Emphatic Fashion

Allen Levin — Mon, 20 Apr 2009 02:14:19 -0400

All of the Miami Heat's problems this season were compounded into one game. It just happened to be game one of their Eastern Conference first round matchup against the Atlanta Hawks.

Miami couldn't score, couldn't defend, committed turnovers, got out-rebounded, played sloppy, looked young, played poorly on the road, and truly looked like the one-man team that they have been criticized of being.

The fourth seeded Hawks took game one of the seven-game playoff series in emphatic fashion, demolishing the fifth seeded Heat 90-64 at Phillips Arena.

Miami was held to a season-low 64 points, including a pathetic 25 points in the second half.

The NBA's scoring champion Dwyane Wade was held to 19 points, 11 points under his season average of 30.2, on eight-for-21 shooting.

Rookie Michael Beasley was the only other Miami player to score in double figures, as he finished with 10 points and 10 rebounds off the bench.

Atlanta simply outplayed Miami and were the better team.

They had a well-rounded attack with every one of their starters scoring in double figures, led by Josh Smith's double-double of 23 points and 10 boards.

The Hawks also got it done on the defensive side. They limited the Heat to 36 percent shooting from the field, including an atrocious four-for-23 (17 percent) from the three-point line.

In addition, they were able to do something many teams aren't able to accomplish—contain Wade.

The Hawks' defense hassled Wade all night long, limiting the superstar to 38 percent shooting and forcing him into eight turnovers.

Wade didn't look like the player we saw light up opposing defenses and take control over games in the regular season. He only got to the foul line two times in 40 minutes of play.

Everything just went wrong for this Miami Heat and that became apparent very early on in the game.

At the end of the first quarter, the Hawks led 24-21. After that, everything went downhill for Miami as the Hawks took over.

The second quarter exposed the Heat's inexperience, with the Hawks taking full advantage. They outscored Miami 35-18 in the second quarter, out-rebounded them 12 to seven, and turned seven turnovers into 10 points, while limiting them to seven-of-18 shooting.

In addition, Atlanta exploded for 61 percent shooting, including an array of acrobatic dunks by Josh Smith.

The highlight reel dunks by Smith epitomized the game, as the Heat just got overpowered in the second quarter, ending the first half with a 20-point deficit, dashing any hopes of a comeback.

The game was over before it started. Atlanta took advantage of a hostile crowd that roared loudly after every highlight reel play that Smith made and gave full momentum to the Hawks.

Joe Johnson also ignited the crowd with his play, contributing 15 points. Mike Bibby finished the game with 10 points and nine assists.

But, there are some positives for Miami after a blowout loss like this.

The game is a wake-up call for the Heat. They have two days to prepare before game two on Wednesday night in Atlanta, and will have time to adjust their strategy and work on their mistakes.

More importantly, Wade never has two bad games in a row. He will come back hungry and show that his 19-point effort was just a fluke. Wade will not let his team be ridiculed in the playoffs, especially after they worked so hard to get there.

The Heat will look to rebound Wednesday night, hoping to adjust their play so they get more contributions from their role players, as well as being much sharper on defense and limiting their turnovers. If they can do that, they will have no problem rebounding and stealing one on the road.

Miami Heat-Atlanta Hawks Series Breakdown: Dwyane Wade Miami's X-Factor

Allen Levin — Sun, 19 Apr 2009 18:59:47 -0400

After a long, grueling 82-game season, the Miami Heat will begin their playoff journey tonight at 8 PM when they square off against their division rivals, the Atlanta Hawks.

The fifth-seeded Heat will be looking for the upset as they arrive for game one at Phillips Arena against the fourth-seeded Hawks in what looks to be a grind-it-out, seven-game series. The Hawks took three out of four against Miami this year and will have home court advantage.

Here is the breakdown of the East's Quarterfinals matchup between the fourth-seeded Atlanta Hawks and the fifth-seeded Miami Heat:

Offense

Both Miami and Atlanta's offenses are in the middle of the pack, with the Heat ranked 18th in scoring and the Hawks ranked 20th. The Heat score 98.3 points per game, while Atlanta is right behind them with 98.1 PPG.

Neither team has a prolific offense, but what separates the two is that Miami has a dominant scorer in Dwyane Wade. Wade has the ability to take over a game with his scoring and has proven he can score in the 50's when his role players are lacking, as he has hit the half-century mark three times this year.

The Hawks have Joe Johnson, who averages a respectable 21 PPG, but that doesn't come close to Wade's 30.2 PPG, which gave him this year's scoring title.

The Heat also have a legitimate second offensive threat in Michael Beasley, who has been on a tear in the season's final games. The rookie has averaged 24.2 points and 11.2 rebounds per game over his last five games and is really showing flashes of his potential.

As far the Hawks, they have other scoring threats in Josh Smith and Mike Bibby, but their scoring duo of Johnson and Smith doesn't compare to Wade and Beasley.

Edge: Miami

Defense

Atlanta and Miami both rank in the top half of the league defensively. The Hawks allow 97 PPG per game, while the Heat allow 98 PPG.

Both squads pride themselves on their defense, which will be a huge factor in this series. Both the Heat and the Hawks have superior shot blockers in Jermaine O'Neal and Josh Smith. They are both a great defensive presence inside.

The Heat also boast the best shot-blocking guard in the NBA in Wade, who is the only player in NBA history 6'4" or under to have 100 blocks in a season. He is a primary reason why the Heat are ranked fourth in the league in blocked shots.

The key for the Heat will be to have good perimeter defense when guarding Johnson and Bibby, but also need to play well in the post defensively because Smith and Al Horford make their living there.

Atlanta's goal will be to stop the unstoppable, Dwyane Wade. If they want to win this series, they are going to have to limit his scoring and make the Heat rely on their role players for offense.

In addition to Josh Smith, the Hawks boast other good defenders in Johnson, Bibby, and Flip Murray. They also have one of the best perimeter defenses in the league, limiting their opponents to 35 percent from beyond the arc.

Edge: Atlanta

Coaching

Rookie head coach Erik Spoelstra against five-year veteran coach Mike Woodson in this series.

Coach Spoelstra has done a wonderful job coaching the Heat after inheriting a horrific 15-67 team last year. He has truly learned from the best in Pat Riley and instilled a defensive presence in this Miami team. He has been able to out-coach many coaches in the league this year and that has been portrayed by his lack of rookie mistakes.

Coach Woodson has led the Hawks to their second straight playoff berth. He has brought them from the eighth seed to the fourth seed in one year and has also made defense a priority in Atlanta.

Although Spoelstra might be a rookie coach, he has served as a Miami assistant coach since 1997 and has been through every long playoff run the team has had, including the Heat's championship run in '06.

Woodson was an assistant coach under Larry Brown and the Detroit Piston team that won the 2004 NBA Championship. But, as far as postseason experience goes, Spoelstra has the clear advantage as he has seen the playoffs nine times in his career.

Edge: Miami

Intangibles

It is indisputable that the Heat have more playoff experience than the Hawks. Last year was the first time Atlanta made the postseason since the 1998-1999 season.

The Heat, meanwhile, are a consistent playoff team and have made the postseason six of the last seven years. In addition, their roster has players with championship experience in Wade (Finals MVP) and Udonis Haslem as well as players such as Jermaine O'Neal and James Jones, who have made it deep into the playoffs earlier in their careers.

The Hawks have players like Johnson and Bibby that have had their fair share of playoff battles, but Atlanta doesn't have anyone with a real championship experience.

In addition to experience, the Heat have the best player on the court through the series in Wade, which is a huge intangible in the playoffs.

Edge: Miami

Prediction: Miami in Seven

The fact of the matter is that Miami has the best player on the court at all times. Wade is an unstoppable force that will get his points either way. He is a leader that has championship experience.

But, even more dangerous than that is the fact that he is hungry. He feels like he has something to prove after last year's injury-riddled season. And that is the reason why Hawk's fans should be very scared coming into this series.

Wade's performance is the X-factor in this series because he has the ability to take over the entire series by himself and single-handedly win it for the Heat.

If the Heat can steal one in Atlanta tonight, the series might be shorter than expected, but I anticipate a grind-it-out seven-game series, with the Heat advancing to the second round.

Miami Heat Finish Road Trip Strong, Gain Crucial Ground on Atlanta Hawks

Allen Levin — Mon, 06 Apr 2009 05:12:02 -0400

Just five days ago, the Miami Heat were coming off another road loss and their second straight defeat overall. They were knocked out of the fifth seed, which they had a firm grasp on for the bulk of the season, by the feisty Philadelphia 76ers.

In addition, they moved to three and a half games behind the fourth-seeded Atlanta Hawks, and it looked inevitable that they would have a dreaded first-round encounter with the powerful Orlando Magic or Boston Celtics.

What a difference two games can make. After a disappointing two-point loss to the Dallas Mavericks to begin their road trip, the Heat recovered to take the final two games of the three-game trip, clinched a playoff spot, reclaimed their fifth seed, and moved to within two games of the Hawks.

With Miami jockeying for playoff position for most of the season with the Hawks and Sixers, things looked to turn south for the Heat. They lost three out of four to finish the month of March and saw Philly take full advantage of a soft spot in their schedule to pass the Heat in the standings.

But, Miami stepped up to the challenge and took care of business on the road, a place where they have had trouble all year long. They beat the Bobcats on Friday night and followed that up with a huge victory over the Washington Wizards the next night in rare back-to-back road wins.

Now, the Heat have a half-game lead over the Sixers and can still steal the fourth spot in the Eastern Conference with five games to go and only trailing by two games. But, the final five games won't be easy, as Miami will be facing four playoff-bound teams, including the defending champion Celtics, Western Conference contending New Orleans Hornets, and a crucial game against the Hawks themselves.

Luckily for the Heat, they will be playing three out of their final five at home, where they have had much success this season, at 26-12.

Miami will start their push for the fourth seed, which will give them the coveted homecourt advantage in the first round, tomorrow night against the Hornets at American Airlines Arena.

The Heat will most likely be without forward Udonis Haslem for the game, who is nursing a laceration on his shooting thumb. New Orleans will also be missing major pieces, with both Tyson Chandler and former Heat forward James Posey having sustained injuries.

Miami will need to capitalize on this huge home game and shut down Chris Paul and his Hornets. In their only other matchup this year, the Heat were defeated 100-89, in which Miami saw Paul and David West light them up for a combined 42 points and 16 rebounds.

For the Heat to get the victory, they're going to have to step up their offense, as the Hornets boast one of the best defenses in the NBA. They hold opponents to 94 points per game, which is good enough for fourth best in the league. But, that shouldn't be much of a problem for Miami if the last two games are any indicator.

They have averaged 107.5 PPG in their last two games, including the whopping 118-point outburst against the Wizards on Saturday. The Heat hit eight fourth-quarter three-pointers in that game and had a very well-balanced offensive attack.

They featured six players in double-figures for scoring, including 16 points from seldom-used guard Yakhouba Diawara and 13 points from James Jones. Against Charlotte, the Heat boasted four players in double-figures for scoring in another well-rounded offensive effort.

If Miami can continue that against New Orleans, they will have a great shot of coming up with a win and gaining further ground on Atlanta. The Hawks also play Tuesday against the Toronto Raptors, who have won six out of their last seven games. The 76ers will face the reeling Bobcats, which makes the Heat's game against the Hornets a must-win.

If Miami ends up not surpassing Atlanta, they need to jealously guard the fifth seed in order to avoid a first-round matchup with the East's elite of Cleveland, Boston, or Orlando.

The Heat just need to continue their current offensive flow, play good defense, and defend their homecourt. If those things happen, they will have no problem holding down the fifth seed and having a much easier first-round matchup.

April Is The Best Sports Month Of The Year

Allen Levin — Mon, 06 Apr 2009 04:07:51 -0400

Sports are one of the most beloved events around the world by all cultures, races, and colors. People travel in flocks, dressed up in team apparel and face paint, to watch their favorite teams compete and hope for their team to succeed.

Every year, people are treated by the sport of their preference, whether it be basketball, baseball, football, golf, or soccer.

Sports occur year round, with some months being more enteraining and more dramatic than others. But, what month takes the crown for hosting the best and most entertaining sporting events of the year?

With the month of April just commencing, I would being April Fooling you if I didn't deem the month of April as the greatest sports month of the year.

Sports fans are treated to the NCAA Final Four, the NBA and NHL playoffs, WrestleMania, The Masters, the NFL Draft, and the start of the MLB season all in a matter of 30 days. The combination of all those exciting sporting events makes any other month of the year hard to compete with the month of April.

Other months, such as February and August, compete with April because February boasts the Super Bowl, NBA All-Star Game, and the Daytona 500, while August has college football, NFL training camps, and the stretch run of the MLB season. But, nothing compares to the excitement and magic in April.

Let's start with the Final Four. What event is more exciting than March Madness? After four grueling rounds of the NCAA tournament, sports fans are treated to the Final Four, which puts four of the best college basketball teams in the nation on display.

The Final Four is simply a prelude to the championship game, which will give a new team the honor of being a title town.

Then there is WrestleMania, which brings a lot of drama to the Wrestling world each year. WrestleMania features some of the most epic battles with some of the most storied wrestlers every year and fans wait months to see these highly anticipated matches.

How about the NBA and NHL playoffs? 16 teams in both leagues make the postseason for highly entertaining series between the respective league's best teams. Sports fans will be treated to over a month of intense playoff action that will eventually lead to the NBA and NHL championship rounds.

The month of April heats up with the Masters. The annual golf tournament at the Augusta National Golf Club features some of the world's best golfers, such as Tiger Woods and Vijay Singh.

Then there is the highly awaited NFL Draft, which gives lowly NFL teams new hope for the future as they draft the studs of college football. Many people look forward to this draft, hoping that their team will draft an impact player that will help their squad immediately.

From Heisman winners to high potential players, the NFL Draft is one of the most thrilling drafts in professional sports.

Finally, there is the start of the MLB season. After five long months of waiting, fans get to see their favorite baseball teams put their helmets and gloves back on and go back to work for a long, 162-game season.

Baseball is considered America's pastime and every year the MLB season generates a lot of enthusiasm as fans get to watch historic teams such as the Red Sox, Yankees, and Cubs take the field.

It is clear that there is no month like the month of April in the world of sports. From the Final Four to WrestleMania, the month of April has it all. Sports fans: When April comes around, remember to cherish it as you will be treated to a lot of great and epic sporting action, in addition to a lot of plain old fun and excitement.

Miami Heat Clinch Playoff Berth, Put Damper on Bobcats' Hopes

Allen Levin — Sat, 04 Apr 2009 17:04:20 -0400

One year after a disastrous 15-67, injury-riddled season, the Miami Heat have clinched a spot in the NBA Playoffs for the 13th time in franchise history.

The Heat defeated the Charlotte Bobcats Friday night, 97-92, to clinch a postseason berth and put a large damper on Charlotte's hopes for their first-ever Playoff appearance.

The Heat made history with the victory, as they become only the second team in NBA history to reach the Playoffs a year after having 15 or fewer wins. They joined the 1968-69 San Diego Rockets in the elite turnaround club.

As usual, Dwyane Wade shined for the Heat. He notched a 27-point, 10-assist double-double and ensured Miami's trip back to the postseason.

“It’s a huge accomplishment for this team to come back after that season and not really make huge, huge changes," Wade said.

The Heat did have to work for this "W," however, as they came from behind. Wade led the furious comeback that began with Miami down 15 points.

The All-Star scored five straight points late in the fourth quarter to give Miami an 88-83 lead with just over three minutes left in regulation. Charlotte brought the game within one point on a Raymond Felton layup, but Wade proceeded to hit two clutch free throws to extend the lead to three.

Felton missed what would have been a game-tying long-range shot, and that forced the Bobcats to foul, sealing the game for the Heat.

Gerald Wallace led the 'Cats with 21 points and eight rebounds. Felton had a double-double with 16 points and 10 assists, and forward Emeka Okafor had 13 points and 13 boards.

The loss puts the ninth-seeded Bobcats two games behind idle Chicago for the eighth and final spot in the Eastern Conference Playoff race.

Besides the Heat reaching their "magic number," the story of the game was the return of Miami's Daequan Cook, who finally emerged from his slump by scoring 16 points on four-of-five shooting from beyond the arc and grabbed seven rebounds.

Also, rookie Michael Beasley contributed 14 points, and newly acquired Jermaine O'Neal posted 13 points and six boards.

The win wasn't without its drawbacks, however.

The Heat suffered the loss of captain Udonis Haslem, who cut his shooting thumb while defending Gerald Wallace's layup attempt. Haslem could be shut down for the remainder of the season, but he insisted he'd be ready come the postseason.

He had a lot else to say about the game, being that he was part of last year's horrible season:

“That just says a lot about the guys that were here last year who kind of came back with a chip on their shoulders,” Haslem said. “(And) it says a lot about the young guys who followed our lead.”

The Heat made a good defensive effort, forcing 17 Bobcat turnovers. They also doubled Charlotte's free throw attemps by a count of 24 to 12.

With the win, the Heat are now within one percentage point of the fifth-seeded 76ers, who meet the Detroit Pistons this afternoon.

The Heat will square off with the lowly Wizards tonight at 7 p.m. in a must-win road game. The team would like to end their three-game road trip not only to catch up to the Sixers but also to quell the worries of play away from home. They have only won four out of their last 16 away from American Airlines Arena.

“It’s a big step for our franchise, and for Pat Riley and Micky Arison,” first-year coach Erik Spoelstra said. “To put this team together after last season, it’s a big step…with that said, we don’t want to stop just with this.”

Michael Beasley and Mario Chalmers: The Miami Heat's Unusual Rookie Duo

Allen Levin — Fri, 27 Mar 2009 19:50:24 -0400

As the 2008-2009 NBA regular season hits its stretch run and teams vie for playoff positioning, people begin to examine the season's storylines, whether it be the MVP battle, the resurgence of certain players, or the most playoff ready teams.

With that being said, people will most likely talk about the rise of the Cleveland Cavaliers, the LeBron vs. Kobe battle, the crowded Western Conference playoff picture, Dwyane Wade's comeback season, and so on. But, what people might not recognize is a nice, little story that has developed in Miami. And that is the formidable play from the Miami Heat's underrated rookie duo, Michael Beasley and Mario Chalmers.

When most people think of the Miami Heat this season, they think of the return of Wade to dominance and his spectacular play as of late. While it easy to be amazed by Wade's heroics, it shouldn't overshadow Beasley and Chalmers performance this year.

Beasley and Chalmers are a rare rookie duo in that they both receive significant playing time and both have a significant impact on Miami's success night in and night out. But, the way this came into fruition is unique as well.

The Heat finished with the league's worst record last year at 15-67. They were a lottery team, hoping for and expecting the first overall pick in the 2008 draft. Everyone knew Miami was in need of a point guard, with Jason Williams signing with the Clippers and Chris Quinn not a viable NBA starting point guard. Sources around the league knew the Heat were targeting Derrick Rose as their selection and an answer to their point guard problems.

But, the lottery balls turned a different way for Miami, and landed them with the second overall pick and the Chicago Bulls with the first. Analysts then predicted Beasley might be the Heat's pick, but still questioned if GM Pat Riley would take O.J. Mayo or another point guard such as Eric Gordon or Jerryd Bayless. A bunch of different scenarios were discussed, but in the end, the Heat took Michael Beasley with the second overall pick in the draft.

With Beasley as their pick, it didn't solve their point guard dilemma. As the second round of the draft came around, the Heat only had the 52nd overall pick, which wasn't going to land them a gem. Riley remained confident and stayed on the phones all night until he was able to work out a deal with the Timber Wolves. Minnesota selected Chalmers with the 34th overall pick and immediately traded him to Miami.

Many people consider the trade a steal for Miami, as Chalmers pretty much just fell into their lap. The Heat left the draft happy, getting a player that was considered the best overall player in his draft class and acquiring a sturdy point guard late in the draft , who was expected to go higher after his notorious performance in the NCAA Championship Game last year.

Making the Beasley-Chalmers duo even more special was the immediate impact they had on the Heat. In the team's first game of the season, both Beasley and Chalmers started, which was the first time there was two rookies in the starting lineup for the Heat since Oct. 28, 2003 when Wade and Udonis Haslem started. Beasley had nine points in his debut, while Chalmers had a more profound effort, with 17 points, eight assists, and seven rebounds.

That was all rookie coach Eric Spoelstra had to see, as Chalmers was given the starting job and hasn't relinquished that position for the entire year. While he has had his rookie struggles over the course of the year, he has been consistent on both sides of the floor and provided the Heat with a much needed point guard of the future.

He has been able to score, assist, rebound, and excel from a defensive aspect. He is fourth in the league in steals, with 1.9 per game and leads all rookies in steals by a pretty large margin.

While some critics have doubted Beasley's rookie campaign, saying he is not disciplined, lacks maturity, and can't play defense, I don't think the Heat would have taken anyone else if they could back to draft night and do it over again.

Beasley has been a consistent threat off the bench, providing a much needed scoring boost when starters like Wade and Haslem are on the bench. He is a very talented offensive player, that has a smooth shot, quick feet, and the ability to knock down the 18-foot jumper (and the occasional three-pointer). He can also drive to the basket and draw fouls.

His main problem has been his defense. Coach Spoelstra has been displeased with his defensive efforts, which is part of the reason he doesn't recieve as much playing time as he probably deserves. But, Beasley is developing and maturing well in the Heat's system and it is only a matter of time before he becomes the beast he is predicted to be.

People like to talk about how Miami has a great young, core that features two rookies in their regular rotation, but not many people really understand how unique and how valuable this rookie combination is. So many things had to fall into place for both Chalmers and Beasley to be wearing Heat uniforms. And luckily for the Heat, they did.

The combination has been very effective for the Heat and is a large reason for Miami's turnaround this year. They have already more than doubled their win total and have a chance to triple it by year's end. But, Beasley and Chalmers have done more than just that in Miami. They have shifted the makeup of the organization. Pat Riley teams are generally teams that are based off of veteran leadership and he usually surrounds his superstars with faded stars that have paid their dues in the league.

Just look at Miami's championship roster if you need evidence. Riley surrounded Shaq and Wade with veterans such as Jason Williams, Antoine Walker, James Posey, Alonzo Mourning, and Gary Payton. The team had no rookies or even second year players in their regular rotation that year.

But this year is completely different, as the Heat are one of the youngest teams in the NBA and rely on their younger players for success. In addition to Beasley and Chalmers, sophomore Daequan Cook gets regular playing time. This Miami Heat team is very different from year's past and it's special because it will set a precedent.

Riley will now start to trust younger players. While he will still surround Wade with veterans and experienced players, he won't hesitate to bring in fresh talent. Beasley and Chalmers are two very special players that will have an impact on the Heat roster for year's to come.

They are a unique duo that has fit right into the Miami system. They respect their elders and listen to players like Wade and Haslem on a nightly basis. And with that, the veterans ask a lot of their rookie teammates. They have high expectations for them and want them to deliver on a nightly basis. For rookies, Chalmers and Beasley certainly have a lot of responsibility.

"Of all the other teams in the playoff race right now, I don't think anyone else is playing rookies or second-year players like we're doing. Whatever minutes they're getting, Michael especially, it's because he's earned them," Coach Spoelstra said.

Coach Spoelstra, Wade, and Haslem all trust the rookies to perform and won't let them have rookie mistakes. And in a time where the Heat are battling for playoff positioning, there is no room for mistakes.

Michael Beasley and Mario Chalmers are some of the best rookies the Heat have had in franchise history. They will have an impact on the Heat for years to come, but they will always be remembered as that very special rookie duo.

Best Miami Heat Lineups of All time

Allen Levin — Wed, 25 Mar 2009 23:04:40 -0400

The Miami Heat have had some great teams over their 20+ years of existence. I am going to examine their two best lineups of all time. It will be in the format of All-Heat First Team, All-Heat Second team, similar to All-NBA First team and All-NBA Second team...etc. From Dwyane Wade to Alonzo Mourning, the Miami Heat have had some excellent players. This piece is purely opinion and is up for debate.

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Heat Win Second Straight Game; Stay in Thick of Race for Fourth Seed

Allen Levin — Tue, 24 Mar 2009 18:32:29 -0400

After a short three-game losing streak, the Miami Heat got back on track Monday night and won their second straight game, defeating the Memphis Grizzlies 94-82 at American Airlines Arena.

The Heat, who beat the Pistons the previous night, swept a back-to-back for just the third time in 16 attempts this season. More importantly, they stayed in the thick of the race for the Eastern Conference's fourth seed, in which they now only trail the pesky Atlanta Hawks by 3.5 games.

Once again, the Heat were led by All-Star Dwyane Wade, who posted a game-high 27 points to go along with eight assists, two steals, and one block on 47 percent shooting. And with Wade's 27 points, he once again rewrote the Miami Heat record books, breaking his own single-season scoring record. He now has 2,064 points for the season, which is 24 more points than his previous best set in the '05-'06 campaign.

As Wade continues to break records, the Heat continue to win ballgames. With the win, the Heat improve to 38-32 overall, and an impressive 25-11 on their home floor. That is certainly a far cry from last year's 15-67 record and 9-32 home record.

The Heat set the tone early, jumping out to an 11-0 start. They never lost the lead and held a double-digit lead for most of the game.

“It was what we needed,” Wade said. “It’s what we all talked about in the locker room before the game. It’s something we haven’t gotten in a while, just come out and fight early.”

Rookie O.J. Mayo led the Grizzlies with 21 points, while Mike Conley contributed 11 points, five assists, and four rebounds. The Grizzlies have now dropped 17 of their last 19 games, including five straight games.

Rookie Michael Beasley rebounded from a three point effort against the Pistons with 17 points and nine boards. Forward Udonis Haslem posted 11 points, while center Jamaal Magloire, who started in place of the injured Jermaine O'Neal, got his first double-double of the season with 10 points and 12 rebounds.

O'Neal was out with a bruised right hip, but is expected to return Wednesday when the Heat face off against the Indiana Pacers, where they have lost 13 straight games at the Conseco Fieldhouse. They will look to end that streak as O'Neal faces his former team for the first time in a Heat uniform.

Miami played great defense from the start, which set a tone for the entire game. They forced 20 Memphis turnovers, including four steals from both Jamario Moon and newly aquired Luther Head.

But great team defense couldn't overshadow Wade's performance. Wade's 11 points in the first quarter was topped off by a forceful slam dunk, in which he took a bounce pass at the foul line and landed a one-handed dunk over a hopeless Darko Milicic.

Wade's dunk in the second quarter out shined his one in the first. Mario Chalmers stole the ball from Conley and quickly flicked it to Wade, who jumped from just inside the foul line and slammed it down with two-tenths of a second remaining in the half.

Overall, it was a good and much-needed victory for a Heat team vying for the fourth spot in the Eastern Conference.

The Heat look to extend their win streak to three and gain ground on the Hawks when they take on the Pacers tomorrow night at 7 p.m.

Miami Heat Gearing Up For Final Stretch of the Season

Allen Levin — Thu, 19 Mar 2009 14:09:04 -0400

As the Miami Heat prepare for their final 15 games of the regular season, it's time to start thinking about the postseason. Where will they be seeded? How far will they go? Do they have what it takes to make a deep run?

The current standings have the Heat as the Eastern Conference's fifth seed at 36-31 and slated for a first round matchup against the fourth-seeded Atlanta Hawks.

Miami has held down the fifth seed for nearly the entire year while breathing down the throats of the Hawks, getting as close as a half-game back and as far as four games back.

But, with Miami's recent two-game losing streak, they have fallen three-and-a-half games back from their division rivals and have let the 76ers get dangerously close to them in the standings, as Philadelphia is only one-and-a-half games behind.

While it will be tough for Miami to attain that coveted fourth seed and home court advantage in the first round, it is certainly not impossible.

The Heat square off with the Hawks one final time in their second-to-last game of the 2008-09 campaign.

But, it will not be an easy road for Miami, as they will face seven playoff-bound teams, including the division-leading Orlando Magic and the defending champion Boston Celtics.

Atlanta's schedule isn't too kind to them either, as they have to face Dallas, Cleveland, San Antonio, Boston, Los Angeles, and Orlando.

The Hawks will really have to play their best basketball in order to hold onto their fourth seed. However, they are currently on a six-game winning streak and don't show any signs of slowing down.

Miami is coming off an overtime loss yesterday to the Celtics, in which they were without their leading scorer, Dwyane Wade.

Wade decided to sit out the game to rest his sore hip, which is probably a good idea considering Miami will have to be flawless in their final stretch of the season in order to pass Atlanta.

The Heat can take advantage of a soft spot in their schedule, though, with their next six games coming against teams with sub-.500 records.

If the Heat want to attain the fourth seed, they are really going to have to step up their defensive presence, though. Miami has given up over 100 points in seven of their last 10 games, which will not cut it come playoff time.

Although they have had defensive lapses lately, their offense has simply been on fire. In the month of March, the Heat have only had one game where they haven't scored over 100 points. Everyone from Jermaine O'Neal to Mario Chalmers to Daequan Cook has been putting up points.

And then their has been the outstanding, MVP-caliber play of All-Star Dwyane Wade. He has been torching the league recently, averaging 35.7 points per game since the All-Star Break, including two 50-point performances. The Heat will need his continued dominance to have a chance at the fourth seed.

I think the Heat have a good shot at passing Atlanta and achieving the fourth seed. They will have to play good on the road and step up their defense, however, to make it and go farther than the first round.

And with Atlanta's schedule being one of the toughest in the NBA, the Heat will have an even better chance. It is time for the Heat and Wade to capitalize on this opportunity and get that much-needed home court in the first round.

The Heat's playoff push will continue when they square off against Vince Carter and the New Jersey Nets in New Jersey on Friday.

Spring Training Guide: Florida Marlins

Allen Levin — Mon, 02 Mar 2009 02:57:33 -0500

1. Location History

The Marlins play their spring training games at Roger Dean Stadium, located in sunny Jupiter, Fla. The exact location is Abacoa, which is located on Donald Ross Road, approximately a quarter-mile east of Interstate 95.

Jupiter is a great baseball location and the city has a rich history. The Marlins moved to Jupiter for Spring Training in 2002 when Jeffrey Loria took over the team.

It is commonly referred to as a "beach town," because of its sunny beaches. Jupiter's most notable landmark is the Jupiter Inlet Lighthouse, which is known as the city's symbol.

Jupiter has become a popular tourist spot and is the home to many celebrities, such as Tiger Woods and Celine Dion.

2. Park History

Roger Dean Stadium is a relatively new structure, built in 1998. It's decently sized, holding 6,871 people. The $28 million stadium features an array of luxuries. It boasts luxury sky-box seating, two levels of permanent seating, parking, and concessions.

Roger Dean is also unique in that it hosts four minor league teams (only stadium in the country that does that) and two MLB teams. Both the Marlins and the St. Louis Cardinals share Roger Dean Stadium in the spring.

The spacious stadium has separate practice fields, outdoor batting cages, pitching mounds, and state-of-the-art conditioning rooms for each team.

3. My Most Memorable Marlins Spring Training Moments

My most memorable moment at a Florida Marlins Spring Training game was when former Marlins second baseman Luis Castillo personally handed me his bat after a game.

I also have fond memories of getting autographs after every almost every spring training game I attended, including Castillo, Derek Lee, and Dontrelle Willis.

4. The Best Way to Get Autographs

The Marlins are a generous team when it comes to signing autographs. During spring training, most of the players are very willing to give their autographs. The best time to catch them is before the game.

I would recommend getting there an hour to an hour and a half before the game starts and waiting above the team's dugout. They will usually emerge from the dugout and sign autographs or will sign a few on their way back into the dugout.

You could also try after the game by the exit gates, where the players keep their cars, but your best bet is before the game when they're not tired.

5. Best Places to Eat

Some of the best places to eat around the Stadium and in Jupiter are
Rooney's Public House, Grande's Bella Cucina, Asian Fin, Jetty's, and Barrymore's Prime Steaks.

Rooney's is an Irish bar that is less than two-tenths of a mile away form the stadium. Grande's is known for its excellent Italian food, while Jetty's and Barrymore's are more upscale.

As for inside the stadium, concessions can be found around the entire stadium.

6. Best Hotels

There are several top notch hotels in the area. The most recommended places to stay are Homewood Suites by Hilton, Comfort Inn and Suites, and Jupiter Beach Resort. They are reasonably priced, except for Jupiter Beach Resort.

Homewood Suites is known for its spacious and clean rooms, while it also provides a complimentary breakfast.

7. Night Life When Not At a Game

There are plenty of things to do in Jupiter, both day and night, when your not enjoying a Spring Training game. During the day, Carlin Park and Inlet Boat Rentals are popular activities.

Carlin Park is known as a great place where families can have picnics, play at the beach, and enjoy the scenic parks.

2nd Generation Bar & Grill is known as a popular knight life place in Jupiter. It's known by the locals as "2G" and it stays open until two in the morning on weekends.

Blondie's Bar & Grille and Blue Note Cafe are also highly regarded for the night scene. Blondie's is known for its steak, seafood, and drinks. Blue Note has live jazz, stand-up comedy, and a dance floor.

The Florida Marlins are a young team that always showcase a talented roster. Spring training is a great time to see their up and coming players, while also being able to experience the beautiful city of Jupiter. Jupiter holds beaches, great night life, and Roger Dean Stadium, where fans can come and see their Florida Marlins play.